Page:The New International Encyclopædia 1st ed. v. 02.djvu/330

AUSTRIA-HUNGARY. inferiiir to the Al])s in height, describe an im- mense curve, amounting to two-thirds of a circle, about Hungary, girding it on the north and east, and covering an extensive area in Transv'vania. In their broad sweep of above 800 miles, from the Danube at Pressburg back to that river at the Iron Gates, they embrace the vast Hungarian plain, a region more level than the prairies of the United States. The highest peak of the Car- pathians is the Gerlsdorfer Spitze. about 8700 feet. At the head of the Adriatic is the remark- able highland region, of limestone formation, known as the Karst. On the borders of Dalmatia and Bosnia is a mountain range which bears the name of the Dinaric Alps. The mountains of Austria-Hungary are famous for their pictur- esque scenery, and abound in caverns, some of them very large. The Adriatic coast-land, with its many islands, its bays, and frowning heights, is one of the most picturesque regions in Europe.

Hydrogeaphy, Among the rivers of Austria- Hungary, the Danube is the most important, and is second only to the Volga in all Europe, its basin embracing about three-fourths of the total area of the country. It enters Upper Austria at Passau, and crossing Lower Austria in an easter- ly direction, enters Hiuigary, which it traverses eastward to the Bakony Forest, then turns abruptly and flows due south to the border of Croatia, where it receives the Drave, then flows again eastward, receives from the north its prin- cipal affluent, the Theiss, and from the • west the Save, and at the Iron Gates breaks through the farther extremity of the Carpathian range, to descend thence into the great plains of Rumania and Bulgaria. The Danube is a very important factor in the economic life of the country, aflfording the largest navigable water- way. Besides the Danube there are several large rivers in Austria-Hungary, The Theiss, with its largest tributary, the Marcs, collects all the waters of eastern Hungary, and delivers them to the Danube at Titel, Two other great tributaries of the Danube, the Drave and Save, collect the drainage of Croatia, Slavonia. Bosnia, Camiola. Carinthia, and a great part of Styria, since the high mountains bordering the Adriatic coast prevent any streams from the interior reach- ing that sea. The Elbe drains most of Bohemia, while the Dniester traverses eastern Galicia, and the Vistula forms part of the boundary line be- tween Russian Poland and Galicia. The Inn traverses northern Tyrol, and the Adige flows through the southern part of that province. The lakes are comparatively few and insignificant. The most important are the Plattensee and the Keusiedlersee, in the western part of Hungary, There are numerous small lakes, especially in the Alps, some of them situated at an altitude of over 7000 feet, and famous for their scenery. The uneven surface of Austria-Hungary is not favora- he for the construction of artificial waterways, and the canals of the country are few and com- paratively unimportant. The Franzens Canal is the longest (137 miles), and connects the Danube with the Theiss. Austria-Hungary is famous for its hot and mineral springs, of which there are over 2800, mostly situated in Bohemia. Hungary, and Transylvania. The most important of them are Karlsbad, Marienbad, and Teplitz (Bohemia). CUMATE. The climate of Austria-Hungary, while generally mild, ditl'ers considerably in riifTerent localities, owing to the uneven surface of the country. The average annual temperature varies from 62° F. in Ragusa, in the southern part of Dalmatia, to 51° in Budapest, and 48° at Prague. The northern Carpathians are char- acterized by very cold winters and cool summers, while in the valleys of Transylvania the winters are very severe and the sunmjers very hot. The mean annual temperature of Vienna is about 50° F. The rainfall is very abundant, and at times excessive, in the western part of the country, near the Alps, where in some places the total annual rainfall exceeds 100 inches ; it is lowest in Lower Austria, Moravia, and Silesia, averag- ing about 25 inches per year.

Fauna. The geographical position of Austria as a part of southern Central Europe gives it the fauna characteristic of its latitude, and there is little that is locally characteristic or diff'erent from that of the neighboring countries. The val- ley of the Danube forms one of the recognized migration highways for birds, between Northeast- ern Europe and Southern Asia ; and the river abounds in fish that ascend from the Black Sea, furnishing important fisheries, of which that for sturgeon is notable. The valley regions have been largely denuded of wild animals by the civiliza- tion that has occupied them for so many centu- ries ; but in the high Alps the chamois and ibex still survive in considerable numbers under legal protection ; and the other high mountains still shelter bears, lynxes, wolves, and representatives of most of the species of smaller animals which originally dwelt there.

Flora. The fiora of Austria-Hungary is char- acterized by great diversity and richness. It may be divided into vertical zones regulated by rela- tive altitude on the mountains, from the fig and grape-producing southern valleys to the Alpine summits. In the west the general fiora is much like that of southern Germany, but on the lower Danube and near the Adriatic trees and plants of a warmer climate prevail.

Geology. In its geological structure, Austria- Hungary shows as much variety as in the forma- tion of its surface. Archiean rocks are repre- sented by gneiss, schist, and granite in the Alps, Bohemian Highlands, and Carpathians, and are noteworthy for their mineral riches. The Silurian formation underlies a large area in Central Bo- hemia, where are located the celebrated silver mines of Pribram, and is also prominent in the Alps and in Galicia. The Devonian formation occurs in Moravia, Galicia. and the Alps. Car- boniferous strata, frequently inclosing coal-beds, are found in Central and Western Bohemia, in Moravia, Silesia, Galicia, Styria, and Hungary (Eibenthal). Rocks of later age are reinesented by Triassic, Jurassic, Cretaceous, Tertiary, and alluvial beds, as well as by igneous intrusions. The Tertiary strata are of great economic im- portance, as they inclose valuable deposits of lignite and salt, and also are intersected by ig- neous dikes that carry the gold and silver ores of Schemnitz, Kremnitz, and Nagy-Brtnya.

Mining. The mining industry of the mon- archy dates centuries back, and some of the mines are believed to have been worked by the Celts and the Romans. The mineral deposits are remarkably rich and varied, including almost every known mineral, besides many kinds of pre- cious stones, mineral oil. and useful earths. Gold is found mainly in Hungary jiropor and Tran- sylvania, while silver occurs in Hungary, Tran-